Fan



June 8, 1937. ANDERSON 2,083,186

FAN

Filed March 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. Z.

ATTORN EYS' June 8, 1937. E. L. ANDERSON FAN Filed March 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented June 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE FAN Edward L. Anderson, Detroit, Mich., asslgnor to American Blower Corporation, Detroit, Mich,

a corporation of Delaware Application March 23, 1936, Serial No. 70,198

5 Claims. (01. 230-114) My invention relates to fans and in particular to a method of controlling the volume of air discharged by a fan.

It is a. further object to provide a means of 5 directing the air entering the fan to impart to it a preliminary whirl.

In particular it is the object of the'invention to provide a conical inlet having annular portions, in which annular portions are mounted the 10 air controlling and guiding vanes.

It is a further object to provide the combination of a Venturi throat and an annular inlet portion of constant diameter in which are located the air controlling and guiding vanes.

15 It is a further object of the invention to provide such an arrangement either with or without a conical air inlet passageway for progressively decreasing the area of the air inlet as the air progresses towards the rotor of the fan.

20 Referring to the drawings, Figure I is a section through the rotor and casing of the fan and through the inlet passageway and hub of the air controlling vanes.

Figure 2 is an endelevation from the inlet 5 end taken in section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. The casing is partially broken away.

Figure 3 is a view similar in section to Figure 1 but with the air controlling and guiding vanes 30 located on the outer end instead of the inner end of the inlet passageway.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the entrance side of the construction shown in Figure 3 with the casing partially broken'away.

35 Referring to the drawings in detail, I constitutes a casing havii g an air outlet 2 and an air inlet passageway comprising a conical portion 3, a cylindrical portion 4 and a Venturi portion 5. The lip 6 of the Venturi portion extends with- 40 in but spaced from the rotor of the fan and is arranged parallel to the ring 1 of the rotor. This ring I is mounted upon the usual arcuate fan blades 8 mounted upon the back plate 9 that in turn is supported by the hub II) on the 45 drive shaft II. The drive shaft II is supported in a bearing bracket I2. The shaft is driven by any suitable source of power.

Within the cyl ndrical section of the inlet passageway as at 4 is mounted a plurality of air controlling and guiding vanes l3 supported at their inner ends upon a hollow hub- I4. This hub may or may not be closed, and the closure streamlined as desired. The hub I4 is supported on the radially disposed pivot pins or pintles or the vanes l3; this reduces drag or resistance by making possible the omission of struts or tie rods.

The axles 15 supporting the vanes 13 extend to a point outside of the cylindrical portion 4 of the inlet casing. On the ends of each of these axles l5 are beveled pinions It engaging with the beveled ring gear ll which can be actuated by the handle l8.. The ring gear I! is mounted on a guide member IS.- The exact construction of the actuating mechanism for these blades is not material in its details and may be varied. The controls may be by hand or by automatic machinery.

The positioning of the vanes l3 controls the volume of air delivered by the rotor of the fan. 15 The vanes also impart a preliminary whirl to the air and facilitate the handling of it by the rotor.

In Figures 3 and 4, the cylindrical portion of the air inlet passageway is placed at the inlet of the fan. Otherwise the construction is the same and the adjustment of the vanes is the same.

By providing a cylindrical passageway in which the vanes are mounted, I thereby provide a passageway of constant area in order that the efiect upon the air of difierent positions of the vanes will not vary due to any variation in the diameter of the passageway but the variation in air volume and directionwill solely depend upon the position of the vanes.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as maybe necessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses. g

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: s

1. In combination, a blower having a casing and a rotor, an air inlet passageway comprising a cylindrical section and a plurality of vanes mounted for pivotal adjustment about radial co- 40 planar axes in said cylindrical section, a conical section in continuation of the cylindrical section forguiding and directing the air with respect to a the vanes, and a Venturi shaped section for guiding the air from the'vanes into the rotor of' the fan.

2. In combination, in a blower, of a blower casing, a rotor, an inlet tube for incoming air comprising a conical section, a cylindrical section and a Venturi shaped section, and a plurality of vanes adjustably mounted to pivot about radial co-planar axes in said cylindrical section.

3. In combination, in a blower, of a. blower casing, a rotor, an inlet tube for incoming air cylindrical section adjacent the outer end of the inlet passageway.

5. In combination, a blower having a casing and a rotor, an extended inlet passageway of decreasing diameter comprising a conical section and a cylindrical section, a plurality of adjustable vanes in said cylindrical section, and a Venturi section on the opposite side of the cylindrical section from the conical section.

EDWARD L. ANDERSON. 

